Military not the venue for social engineering

The decision to lift the ban on women serving in combat is not based on sound policy for military readiness. The Obama administration is implementing an agenda contrary to the mission of national defense. The secretary of Defense serves under Article 2 of the Constitution and does not have the authority to make changes to land and naval forces as that power is granted to Congress. The Supreme Court ruled in the 1981 case Rostker v. Goldberg "since women are excluded from combat, Congress concluded that they would not be needed in the event of a draft." Leon Panetta's change will result in women being required to register for Selective Service. The consequences of politically correct policies forced upon the military have been disastrous. The physical standards for men at the service academies have declined since women were admitted in 1978. In the wake of the Tailhook scandal, the Navy enforced a double standard and special treatment in forcing instructors to pass Lt. Kara Hultgreen into the fleet as an F-14 pilot despite low scores and major errors. She died attempting to land her jet on a carrier in 1994. The Armed Forces is not the place for social engineering.